Cardiff council, in its role as a planning authority, has introduced a new set of charges relating to planning applications

Wales’ biggest council has been accused on trying to cash in on the planning boom by increasing some charges by up to four times.

Cardiff council has introduced a new list of charges relating to planning applications in its capacity as a planning authority. The new charges, which came into effect on August 1, are for pre-application advice for developments which are then considered by planning officers or the planning committee who then make a decision.

The charges are split into four categories which also include VAT.

Advice on a planning application for 25 or more residential units has gone from £500 to £2,500 plus an extra hourly rate of £100. Developments of between 10 and 24 homes now stand at £1,250 - also with an additional hourly rate of £100. The charge previously stood at £250.

This new category also includes minor developments for small businesses, advice on listed buildings and conservation areas, works to trees which are already subject to Tree Preservation Orders and discussions about enforcement investigations.

Councillor Judith Woodman, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: “These are huge increases. Big developers can afford this but the problem is they will pass that cost on to their customers. They will recover their costs in that development.

They’re cashing in on the big developers but we also have to think about the city’s residents as well.”

Independent Councillor Jayne Cowan said: “I feel the percent increases are too steep. Residents pay high levels of council tax, and I think it is wrong, and goes against the spirit of the council providing a service, to charge people for advice on such matters as enforcement and trees.”

A council spokesman said the new charges are in line with those in similar cities such as Bristol and Leeds.

The council’s head of planning added: “It reflects the need to support an effective pre-application process to bring forward high quality development across the city.”

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